Pay to keep Sky Box or buy Freesat Box?

Alikay

I've finally decided to get rid of Sky TV as it's too expensive and we don't watch many of the channels. I don't have an aerial so plan to watch Freesat through my Sky dish. Sky want me to return my Sky Q 1TB box when the cancellation goes through, or I can pay £115 to keep it. Is it best to do this, or buy a new Freesat TV box which  is around £230? I like to be able to pause what I'm viewing and record the odd show, which I then delete once viewed.

Browntoa

How modern is the TV 

Many have Freesat tuners built in and the capability to record and pause to a usb device

Or buy a Freesat box 

Alikay

Our main TV is about 8 years old ...don't think it has Freesat built in (although our smaller TV in bedroom does). I'm thinking that we may have to buy a Freesat box - what are the usb devices, and do they allow you to record, pause etc?

Emmia

Plenty of freesat boxes that will allow you to pause, record etc. But you need a recording one to pause/rewind live TV.

https://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/set-top-boxes

prowla

If you buy the Sky box does that mean you can pause & record?

flaneurs_lobster

Have Sky changed their T&C's? Used to be that you couldn't buy a (kosher) Sky Q box and they didn't work without a sub. 

Rodders53

Only a freesat 4k box will work with the $ky Q wideband LNB fitted to the dish.  Thus it's the only option without added expense of a LNB change (which is, potentially a diy job) for older freesat devices and TV sets...

Q box is unlikely to work as anything other than a base receiver (no pause or record) AIUI - seek written confirmation of what your £115 gets you... 

Alikay

Ah, thank you. I did wonder whether the Sky box would cease working once my subscription ends. Many years ago, the old Sky boxes would work for Freeview but I know the technology is now very different.  We'll buy a Freesat box ready for when our Sky is cancelled (unless they offer us a good deal which I think is very unlikely...)

prowla

Alikay said:

Ah, thank you. I did wonder whether the Sky box would cease working once my subscription ends. Many years ago, the old Sky boxes would work for Freeview but I know the technology is now very different.  We'll buy a Freesat box ready for when our Sky is cancelled (unless they offer us a good deal which I think is very unlikely...)

An old Sky box will do Freeview, but you had to pay them £10/month to record.

You could find out what it did by removing your viewing card.

You can't give them away these days.

macman

Pedant's corner: an old Sky box does Freesat From Sky, not Freeview, which is a digital terrestial service.
To all intents and purposes, the channel line up is almost identical.

brewerdave

macman said:

Pedant's corner: an old Sky box does Freesat From Sky, not Freeview, which is a digital terrestial service.
To all intents and purposes, the channel line up is almost identical.

With all the changes proposed for Freeview, I suspect that Freesat will become much more attractive.